U.S. House, Alaska At-Large Congressional District · Election November 3, 2026 · Updated
Who should I vote for in Alaska's At-Large Congressional District?
Nick Begich has the strongest record in Alaska's At-Large Congressional District. Nick Begich scores 65 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, ahead of Bill Hill at 63, as of October 6, 2026. Nick Begich's highest marks are showing up and relevant experience. Bill Hill's highest marks are relevant experience and command of the job. Eric Hafner (4 of 15 criteria) and Jim McDermott (5 of 15 criteria) have too little public record to score. Every score comes from public records on character, qualifications and performance, the same way for every party.
Republican · incumbent
Strongest record
Nick Begich
65 / 100
Public evidence on 12 of 15 criteria
- Character
- 50
- Qualifications
- 70
- Performance
- 75
Democratic
Eric Hafner
Not enough public record for a score
Public evidence on 4 of 15 criteria
- Character
- 0
- Qualifications
- 42
- Performance
- NR
Nonpartisan
Bill Hill
63 / 100
Public evidence on 10 of 15 criteria
- Character
- 50
- Qualifications
- 70
- Performance
- 63
Libertarian
Jim McDermott
On the ballot as James C. "Jim" McDermott
Not enough public record for a score
Public evidence on 5 of 15 criteria
- Character
- 50
- Qualifications
- 50
- Performance
- NR
The good, the bad and the unresolved
The record
The notable facts of each candidate's public life, each tied to a source and confirmed to be this person. Unresolved matters are labeled with where they stand and do not move a score.
Nick Begich
- On the record2026-05-09
Declined to attend an Anchorage U.S. House candidate forum organized by progressive groups; he attended the state Republican convention that weekend.
- On the record2025-02-17
Held a telephone town hall with more than 3,000 participants; Alaska Public Media reported the format left him and his staff in control of the microphone.
- Credit2026-spring
Six bills he sponsored passed Congress and became law in spring 2026, which ADN reports tied for most by a freshman; GovTrack counts nine enacted bills as primary sponsor.
Sources: Anchorage Daily News, Sept. 15, 2026, GovTrack, Nicholas Begich
- Credit2025-01 to 2026-09
Missed 6 of 676 House roll call votes, 0.9 percent, below the 2.1 percent median, per GovTrack.
Source: GovTrack, Nicholas Begich
Eric Hafner
- Mark against2022
Convicted of threatening to kill judges, police officers and others and of making false bomb threats; sentenced to 20 years in federal prison.
Sources: Alaska's News Source, June 1, 2026, Associated Press via Fortune, Sept. 4, 2024, KRBD, Sept. 3, 2024
- On the record2026
His candidate filing lists a South Dakota address while he is held in a New York federal prison; a state judge ruled in 2024 that he could remain a candidate.
Sources: Alaska Division of Elections 2026 general candidate list, Alaska Beacon via Yahoo News, Sept. 1, 2026
Bill Hill
- On the record2026-09-01
Running as an independent, he was endorsed by the Alaska Democratic Party; he has declined to say which party he would caucus with.
- Credit2022-10
The Alaska Superintendents Association named him Alaska's superintendent of the year for his work leading the Bristol Bay Borough School District.
Sources: Alaska Public Media, Oct. 25, 2022, KDLG, Feb. 8, 2023
- Credit2013 to 2023
As superintendent helped build the Bristol Bay Regional Career and Technical Education Program, which expanded in 2019 to all four Bristol Bay school districts.
Jim McDermott
No notable items confirmed in news archives or public documents.
Who they are
Character
Integrity
Tells the truth, keeps their word, and takes no private gain from public office.
Nick Begich. Campaign reports are on file with the FEC through July 29, 2026, with no FEC administrative fine. No ethics finding and no report of a late stock trade disclosure found.
Sources: FEC candidate page, coverage dates, FEC administrative fines search, committee C00792341
Eric Hafner. No public record found.
Bill Hill. Campaign reports are on file with the FEC through July 29, 2026, with no FEC administrative fine found.
Sources: FEC candidate page, coverage dates, FEC administrative fines search, committee C00935437
Jim McDermott. No public record found.
Courage
Takes a stand that costs them something, including telling their own side no.
Nick Begich. No public record found.
Eric Hafner. No public record found.
Bill Hill. No public record found.
Jim McDermott. No public record found.
Accountability
Owns mistakes, answers hard questions, and works in the open.
Nick Begich. Took part in the Aug. 27, 2026 Alaska Oil and Gas Association forum and the Sept. 12, 2026 Kodiak fisheries debate. Declined a May 2026 Anchorage forum run by progressive groups.
Sources: Anchorage Daily News, Sept. 15, 2026, Anchorage Daily News, Sept. 1, 2026, Anchorage Daily News, May 10, 2026
Eric Hafner. No public record found.
Bill Hill. Took part in a May 2026 Anchorage forum, the Aug. 27, 2026 AOGA forum and the Sept. 12, 2026 Kodiak fisheries debate.
Sources: Anchorage Daily News, Sept. 15, 2026, Anchorage Daily News, May 10, 2026
Jim McDermott. No public record found.
Temperament and judgment
Steady under pressure, decides on evidence, and treats opponents and staff with respect.
Nick Begich. Business executive and company founder, a Matanuska Telephone Association board director and a member of Congress since 2025, with no censure, reprimand or formal conduct finding found.
Source: Rep. Begich, About page
Eric Hafner. Convicted in 2022 of threatening to kill judges, police officers and others and of making false bomb threats; sentenced to 20 years in federal prison, per AP and Alaska's News Source.
Sources: Alaska's News Source, June 1, 2026, Associated Press via Fortune, Sept. 4, 2024
Bill Hill. Twenty-five years in Alaska public schools, including a decade as a district superintendent, with no formal conduct finding found.
Jim McDermott. No public record found.
Fidelity to the oath
Uses power inside its limits: accepts certified results, obeys court rulings, follows the rules of the office.
Nick Begich. Took the House oath in January 2025. He was not in Congress for the 2021 elector objections; no official finding of misuse of office found.
Source: GovTrack, Nicholas Begich
Eric Hafner. No public record found.
Bill Hill. No public record found.
Jim McDermott. Served 22 years in the U.S. Air Force. No official finding of misuse of office found.
What they bring
Qualifications
Relevant experience
Has done work that prepares them for this specific office.
Nick Begich. Serving his first term in the U.S. House since January 2025; earlier a technology entrepreneur and Ford Motor Company employee. E9's 4 requires one full term in the same office.
Sources: Alaska Public Media, ADN, KTOO and Alaska Beacon voter guide data, Rep. Begich, About page
Eric Hafner. No public record found.
Bill Hill. Superintendent of the Bristol Bay Borough School District from 2013 to 2023, named Alaska Superintendent of the Year, and a commercial fisherman. Has not held elected office.
Jim McDermott. Retired Air Force master sergeant after 22 years and a University of Alaska business instructor. Has not held elected office.
Command of the job
Knows the issues and knows what the office can and cannot do.
Nick Begich. Serves on the Natural Resources, Transportation and Infrastructure, and Science committees and is vice chair of the Energy and Mineral Resources subcommittee; answered the joint media questionnaire with specific positions.
Sources: Rep. Begich, Committees and Caucuses, Alaska Public Media, ADN, KTOO and Alaska Beacon voter guide data
Eric Hafner. Published positions in general terms in the joint Alaska media voter guide, such as subsidies for necessities and abolishing ICE.
Source: Alaska Public Media, ADN, KTOO and Alaska Beacon voter guide data
Bill Hill. Publishes specific federal proposals, including a tribal seat on the North Pacific Fishery Management Council, strict low bycatch limits and a federal resilience package for Alaska.
Source: Alaska Public Media, ADN, KTOO and Alaska Beacon voter guide data
Jim McDermott. Published positions in general terms in the joint Alaska media voter guide, such as photo voter ID and work visas tied to job offers.
Source: Alaska Public Media, ADN, KTOO and Alaska Beacon voter guide data
Communication
Explains plainly, persuades, and listens.
Nick Begich. Answered the 2026 joint Alaska media voter guide questionnaire, took part in a forum and a debate, offers a newsletter and held a telephone town hall in February 2025. Has not completed Ballotpedia's survey.
Sources: Alaska Public Media, ADN, KTOO and Alaska Beacon voter guide data, Alaska Public Media, Feb. 19, 2025, Ballotpedia, Nicholas Begich
Eric Hafner. Answered the 2026 joint Alaska media voter guide questionnaire. Has not completed Ballotpedia's 2026 survey.
Sources: Alaska Public Media, ADN, KTOO and Alaska Beacon voter guide data, Ballotpedia, Eric Hafner
Bill Hill. Completed Ballotpedia's 2026 survey, answered the joint Alaska media voter guide, publishes issue positions and took part in forums and a debate.
Sources: Ballotpedia, Bill Hill, Alaska Public Media, ADN, KTOO and Alaska Beacon voter guide data, Anchorage Daily News, Sept. 15, 2026
Jim McDermott. Answered the 2026 joint Alaska media voter guide questionnaire. Has not completed Ballotpedia's 2026 survey.
Sources: Alaska Public Media, ADN, KTOO and Alaska Beacon voter guide data, Ballotpedia, Jim McDermott (Alaska)
Roots in the constituency
Lives there, knows the people, and is funded by them.
Nick Begich. Born in Anchorage; lives in Chugiak. About 17 percent of itemized individual contributions by state this cycle came from Alaska (FEC by-state totals).
Sources: Rep. Begich, About page, Alaska Division of Elections 2026 general candidate list
Eric Hafner. His filing lists a campaign address in Box Elder, South Dakota. He is held in a federal prison in New York; AP reports no clear ties to Alaska.
Sources: Alaska Division of Elections 2026 general candidate list, KTVU (Fox) from the Associated Press, Aug. 27, 2026
Bill Hill. Grew up in Kokhanok and Naknek, graduated from the Bristol Bay Borough school in 1987 and lives in Naknek. About 24 percent of itemized individual contributions by state came from Alaska (FEC by-state totals).
Sources: Alaska Public Media, Oct. 25, 2022, Anchorage Daily News, Sept. 1, 2026
Jim McDermott. Lives in Fairbanks; his filing lists a Fairbanks address.
Sources: Alaska Division of Elections 2026 general candidate list, Alaska Beacon via Yahoo News, Sept. 1, 2026
Management
Can build and run an organization.
Nick Begich. Campaign reports are on file with the FEC with no administrative fine; the committee reported $225,764 in debts at July 29, 2026.
Sources: FEC candidate page, FEC administrative fines search, committee C00792341
Eric Hafner. No public record found.
Bill Hill. Ran the Bristol Bay Borough School District as superintendent for a decade. Campaign reports are on file with the FEC with no administrative fine and no debts. District size not found.
Sources: FEC candidate page, KDLG, Feb. 8, 2023
Jim McDermott. No public record found.
What they deliver
Performance
Results
Turns ideas into outcomes.
Nick Begich. No Center for Effective Lawmaking score yet for his first Congress. Six bills he sponsored became law in spring 2026, which ADN reports tied for most by a freshman; GovTrack counts nine enacted.
Sources: Anchorage Daily News, Sept. 15, 2026, GovTrack, Nicholas Begich
Eric Hafner. No public record found.
Bill Hill. As superintendent helped build the Bristol Bay Regional Career and Technical Education Program, which expanded in 2019 to all four Bristol Bay school districts, and oversaw a phased renovation of the district school.
Sources: Alaska Public Media, Oct. 25, 2022, KDLG, Feb. 8, 2023
Jim McDermott. No public record found.
Showing up
Does the basic work of the job.
Nick Begich. Missed 6 of 676 roll call votes, 0.9 percent, from January 2025 to September 2026.
Source: GovTrack, Nicholas Begich
Eric Hafner. No public record found.
Bill Hill. No public record found.
Jim McDermott. No public record found.
Constituent service
Solves problems for the people they represent.
Nick Begich. Keeps district offices in Anchorage and Fairbanks and offers casework help with federal agencies.
Sources: Rep. Begich, Contact page, Rep. Begich, Help with a Federal Agency
Eric Hafner. No public record found.
Bill Hill. No public record found.
Jim McDermott. No public record found.
Coalition building
Wins support beyond their own faction.
Nick Begich. No public record found.
Eric Hafner. No public record found.
Bill Hill. Running as an independent, he was endorsed by the Alaska Democratic Party and the former Democratic front-runner, Matt Schultz. No Republican endorsement found.
Jim McDermott. No public record found.
Stewardship of public money
Treats tax dollars as someone else's money.
Nick Begich. No public record found.
Eric Hafner. No public record found.
Bill Hill. No public record found.
Jim McDermott. No public record found.
How to read this
Each criterion is scored 0 to 4 against the written rubric in the Ballot Standard. NR means no record: there is no reliable public evidence either way, so the criterion is left out and never counts against the candidate. A total is published when at least 8 of 15 criteria have evidence.
A sitting officeholder has a longer public record than a first-time candidate, so the two totals rest on different amounts of evidence. Read the count of criteria beside each score. Low marks require an official finding or a primary record. Allegations and opinion are not used.
No policy position is scored. Evidence checked October 6, 2026; scorecard updated October 9, 2026. Campaigns and readers can send a correction with a public source to tpg@thepoliticalgroup.com.
Questions
Who should I vote for in Alaska's At-Large Congressional District?
Nick Begich has the strongest record in Alaska's At-Large Congressional District. Nick Begich scores 65 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, ahead of Bill Hill at 63, as of October 6, 2026. Nick Begich's highest marks are showing up and relevant experience. Bill Hill's highest marks are relevant experience and command of the job. Eric Hafner (4 of 15 criteria) and Jim McDermott (5 of 15 criteria) have too little public record to score. Every score comes from public records on character, qualifications and performance, the same way for every party.
Who is running in Alaska's At-Large Congressional District in 2026?
Nick Begich (Republican, incumbent), Eric Hafner (Democratic), Bill Hill (Nonpartisan), Jim McDermott (Libertarian). The general election is November 3, 2026.
Is Nick Begich a good candidate for Congress?
Nick Begich scores 65 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, with public evidence on 12 of 15 criteria: character 50 of 100, qualifications 70 of 100, performance 75 of 100. The standard measures character, qualifications and performance, not policy positions.
Is Eric Hafner a good candidate for Congress?
Eric Hafner has public evidence on 4 of the 15 Ballot Standard criteria, short of the 8 needed for a score. The evidence that exists is shown on the scorecard. No record never counts against a candidate.
Is Bill Hill a good candidate for Congress?
Bill Hill scores 63 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, with public evidence on 10 of 15 criteria: character 50 of 100, qualifications 70 of 100, performance 63 of 100. The standard measures character, qualifications and performance, not policy positions.
Is Jim McDermott a good candidate for Congress?
Jim McDermott has public evidence on 5 of the 15 Ballot Standard criteria, short of the 8 needed for a score. The evidence that exists is shown on the scorecard. No record never counts against a candidate.
How is the strongest record decided?
The candidate with the highest Ballot Standard score has the strongest record. Each of 15 criteria on character, qualifications and performance is scored 0 to 4 from public records and established reporting, the same way for every party. No policy position is scored, and unresolved accusations never move a score.
More on this race: every Alaska race scored, and the Alaska 2026 election guide. Independent scorecard by The Political Group, not affiliated with any candidate or party.